Leicester have blown the "why doesn't the owner spend a shed load of money?" argument out of the water.
A lot has been spouted about how Leics did it, and even Renieri cannot explain it but for me the man who has not been mentioned and who is probably the one to look at is Nigel Pearson and his recruiting staff. The analysts and pundits will no doubt give us the answer in the end but whoever scouted and recommended the signings, Pearson was the one who blended them into a team. At the beginning of the season I had Renieri down as a safe pair of hands and not much else. I reckon he has had the easiest job in football, no expectations, no pressure but with what turned out to be a bloody good team.
I agree with that. When Pearson was mentioned in connection with the Newcastle job, I was hoping to hell it wouldn't happen. Not overjoyed with what they did get either mind.
Pearson is a strange one. Yes he helped to build this team, a bloody good team as it later turns out. Yet how comes he had this same team at the bottom of the league? Is he actually that good a manager, it suggests not. Ranieri on the other hand came in and turned the same (then **** team) into Prem champs. All hail King Claudio.
Yes, but they were newly promoted last season. Considering Vardy had played non-league stuff three years ago, and some of the 'cheapo' foreigners had seen nothing like the Prem standard before, I can understand how it took a bit of time to adjust. I'm not taking anything from Ranieri mind.
Bit hasrh on Pearson that imo. As Relic has said, had a team of inexperienced youngsters -I think Cambiasso was a masterstroke for that reason. But it obviously took them a while to get up to speed. They were playing well all season but very unlucky with results. Also, towards the end of the season (last 10 games or so) they were in Champion's League form if I remember correctly. Pearson did an amazing job imo.
Coming back to Pearson, last season Leics were turning in some good attacking displays but could not defend to save their lives. Signed Huth from Stoke and he was the beginning of the transformation. Even in their bad period they stuck five past ManU. Pearson got a rough deal about those young players misbehaving in Thailand but obviously it caused a rift with him and the owner. Turned out good for the club but I do think Pearson deserves another crack at managing.
